Knockdown furniture



March 27, 1951 G. w. ANDERSON KNOCKDOWN FURNITURE Filed Feb. 16, 1949 INV EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN FURNITURE George W. Anderson, Port Washington, N. Y; I Application February 16, 1949, Serial No. 76,702

3 Claims. (01. 155196) This invention relates to knock-down furniture and more particularly to a chair made principally of pieces of plywood or like material.

Among the objects of the invention is to providea knock-down chair or like article of furniture comprising a minimum of separable pieces which may be easily erected to form a chair and disassembled into fiat pieces for carrying and storage purposes. 2

' Another object of the invention is to provide a chair-having a resilient supporting structure bowed to shape and restrained from returning-to its normal state by a seat member and a stretcher which together cooperate with the supporting structure and hold the assembly as a rigid unit.

While the outlineof the various pieces of a chair may vary for producing chairs having different appearances and uses, a chair constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention includes a sheet of resilient material such as plywood which is adapted to be bowed to form a rear and forwardly extending supporting structure, and seat and stretcher members formed to fit within the bowed supporting structure and to cooperate with the inner surfaces of the bowed supporting structure for maintaining its form and also having means cooperating with the side portions of the bowed supporting structure to restrain the normal tendency thereof to return to a fiat condition. The forward portion of the stretcher is pivotally mounted with respect to the sides of the supporting structure, and the side portions of the stretcher are so shaped with respect to the inner surface of the supporting structure as to limit the pivotal movement ofthe stretcher when mounted in place. The forward portion of the seat member is also pivotally con-- nected to the sides of the supporting structure and it is so formed as to provide a locking fit with the interior of the bowed supporting structure when the seat member is in place over the stretcher.

The means by which the seat member and stretcher are pivotally mounted to the supporting structure engage openings in the sides of the supporting structure and have fastening elements which are manipulatable to separate the seat member and stretcher from the supporting structure by a simple pivotal movement.

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration,

In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying the principle of .the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. l

Fig. 3 is aview of the chair as seen from above with parts broken away;

Fig.4 is a development of the supporting structure of the chair; s v

Fig. 5 is a plan of the stretcher; and Fig. 6 is a plan of the seat member.

The chair illustrated in. the drawings is designed for use by a child, butit may be built on a larger scale and embody features of design more suitable-for adult use The chair includes a'supporting structure H), a stretcher H and a seat member I2, which when assembled together as illustrated in Fig. 1, constitutes a complete chair. The construction is particularly suitable for manufacture from plywood or from other materials having similar characteristics. Each of the main pieces may be stamped or die-cut from sheet material, once their relative proportions and design have been determined. As illustrated in *Fig. 4, the supporting structure is so shaped as to pro- I vide a straight lower edge l3 which is adapted to rest upon the floor and support the back 14 and side portions I5 and 16 perpendicular to the floor, but, if desired, the lower edge [3 may be curved to incline the supporting structure with respect to the floor or to give a desired decorative leg structure. The upper edge I! of the back portion l4 isformed to merge with the edges of the side portions [5 and 16 of lower height and provide'arm rests l8 and I9. An opening 20 for handling the chair and openings 2!, 22, 23 and 24 may be cut from the blank material at; the time the supporting structure is cut. The openings 2| and 22 serve to support studs extending from the stretcher II, and the openings 23 and 24 serve to support studs extending from the seat member 12, when the chair is assembled. 7

As will be more-clearly understood in the following description the depth of the flat areas of the side portions I 5 and I6 maybe of any desired dimension, it being necessary only that length of supporting structure Hi between side edges be no greater with respect to the depth of the stretcher l 1 than will permit the stretcher to intersect the curved portions of the back M and of the side portions [5 and !6 when the stretcher is mounted in position of use;

The stretcher II and the seat member 12 may also be made of sheet material, such as plywood, and are so shaped as to fit within and engage the irmer surface of the supporting structure It! when the latter is bowed to form the chair, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The contour of the stretcher l I includes a front edge 25 and a rear edge 26 which are parallel to each other, and side edges 2'! and 28 which are curved towards the rear to form traces of the intersection of the plane of the stretcher with the curve of the back I4 and of the side portions i5 and [6, respectively, of the supporting structure lll when the chair is assembled and the rear edge 25 of the stretcher underlies the under surface of the seat 12.

The stretcher is pivotally supported adjacent its forward edge by studs 29 and 38 extending from opposite side edges 21 and 28, respectively, of the stretcher. Each of the studs may be constituted of an inner core projecting from the ma-: terial of the stretcher, and this inner core preferably has attached to its surfaces members 3.! and 32 to provide a cylindrical bearing. These members 3| and 32 may be glued or otherwise fastened to the core, and the member 32 may extend across the stretcher to form a portion of the stud at its other edge, as illustrated in the drawings. The studs may be otherwise provided as in the form of metallic clips fastened to the stretcher. The cores of the studs are formed when the stretcher is stamped or die-cut from blank material and the Wings ,33 and 34 are preferably formed in the same operation. The holes 2|. and 22 in: the supporting structure is are shaped to provide curved bearing surfaces for the studs and sfots to allow for the passage of the wings 33 and 3t therethrough.

When the chair is to be assembled, the sheet constituting the supporting structure H3 is bowed by bringing the side portions f5 and 55 towards each other until the studs 2d and 38 are engaged in the openings 2f and 22. The stretcher is then rotated on the axis of the studs to the position illustrated in Figs. I and 2. Once the stretcher is rotated, the stretcher acts as a tension member as the wings of the studs 29 and 3E restrain the natural tendency of the sheet it to unfurl. Since the side edges 21 and 28 of the stretcher are so shaped as to engage the inner curving surfaces of the bent sheet when the stretcher has reached its intended position, the stretcher will be supported in such position by the supporting structure and prevented from further rotation.

The seat I? is also susceptible of being stamped or die-cut from a sheet of plywood in correct proportion for engaging the inner surface of the supporting structure I!) when the same is bowed and the seat is disposed in its useful position. The cores and wings of the studs 3'5 and 3'? may be cut in the same operation and the studs finished as round bearings and in the manner above described. The studs 35 and 31 are engaged in the openings 23 and 24', respectively, when the stretcher is being assembled to the side portions and [6 of the supporting structure. After the side portions [5 and i6 have been pressed together against the side edges of the seat the seat is rotated to a horizontal position. By further depressing therear portion of the seat, the material of the supporting structure it is flexed sufiiciently to permit the seat to descend into contact with the upper edge 25 of the stretcher, as best illustrated in Fig.2. The seat is locked below the horizontal by the curved portion of the supporting structure I8 and cannot be displaced upwardly without the exertion of considerable force from underneath. The edges of the stretcher and seat engage the interior surface of the bowed supporting structure and maintain its curved form and the wings on the studs hold the side portions of the supporting structure from spreading away from the stretcher and seat with the result that the three pieces are firmly assembled as a rigid construction.

The invention is admirably suited for the manufacture of chairs and other like pieces of furniture made wholly or partly of. plywood. It is apparent that when the stretcher and seat member are detached from the supporting structure, all the pieces may be laid flat for storage or convenience in carrying.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the specific description herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the particular showing herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is 1. A knock-down chair or the like comprising a sheet of resilient. material bowed from its normal condition into the form of an upstanding supporting structure having a curred back and side portions extending forwardly from the back, a seat member pivotally connected adjacent its forward edge to the side portions of said supporting structure, said seat: having a configuration for engaging the curved back, a stretcher pivotally connected adjacent its forward edge to the side portions of said supporting structure and having engagement with the side portions of said supporting structure and the underside of said seat member to support said seat member, and means engaging said seat member and said stretcher, respectively, and the side portions of said supporting structure to hold the side portions of said supporting structure from spreading away from said seat member and stretcher. I

2. A knock-down chair or the like comprising a sheet or resilient material bowed from its normal condition into the form of an upstanding supporting structure having a curved back and side portions extendin forwardly from the back, a seat member pivotally connected adjacent its forward edge to the side portions of said supporting structure, said seat having a con- :figuration adapted to engage the interior sur-. face of the curved back when the seat is disposed in seating position between the forwardly extending side portions of said supporting struee ture, a stretcher extending between the side portions of said supporting structure, said stretcher having side edge portions engaging the inner surfaces of the side portions of said supporting structure to support said stretcher and a rear edge engaging the under surface of said seat member to support the rear of said seat member, and means engaging said seat member and said stretcher, respectively, and bearing upon the outer surfaces of the side portions of said supporting structure to hold the side portions of said supportin structure from spreading away from said seat member and stretcher.

3. A knock-down chair or the like comprising a sheet of plywood adapted to be bowed to form an upstanding supporting structure with a rear and forwardly extending side portions, a seat member shaped to fit within and contact with the inner surface of the bowed configuration D of said sheet of plywood when the chair is assembled, a stretcher having side portions for engaging the inner surface of the sheet of plywood when the chair is assembled, means extending laterally from the forward portions of said seat member and stretcher for engaging and pivotally supporting said seat member and stretcher on the forwardly extending portions of said supporting structure, said means comprising studs having wings extending laterally therefrom and adapted to pass through holes in the forwardly extending portions of said supporting structure when the seat member and stretcher are disposed in predetermined positions and to engage the outer surfaces of the forwardly extending side portions of said supporting structure when the seat member and stretcher are rocked to assume their respective positions when the chair is assembled.

GEORGE W. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,430,241 Nicholas Nov. 4, 1947 2,478,236 Carr Aug. 9, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,108 Great Britain 1909 358,824 Germany Sept. 15, 1922 523,630 Germany Apr. 25, 1931 464,109 France Jan. 6, 1914 652,837 France Oct. 29, 1928 832,477 France July 4, 1938 

